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Home , Masarat Alam Bhat, Over ground worker, Yasin Malik

GOVERNMENT OF MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*481 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28TH APRIL, 2015/VAISAKHA 8, 1937 (SAKA)

SEPARATIST ACTIVITIES IN J&K

†*481. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI ELUMALAI V.:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether separatist and terrorist activities have been reported in and recently and if so, the details thereof along with the number of security forces and civilians injured and killed in such incidents during the last one year and the current year, incident-wise;

(b) whether there are inputs suggesting the involvement of some foreign agencies in this regard, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government is aware of separatists having been released from the Jails, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the measures being taken to check separatist/terrorist activities including dialogue with the separatist groups in the State?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *481 FOR 28.04.2015.

(a): Details of terrorist incidents along with the number of security forces and civilians injured and killed during the last one year and the current year are given below:

Sl. No. Incidents 2014 Upto 19th April, 2015 1. Terrorist incidents 222 32 2. Civilians Killed 28 04 3. Civilians injured 71 07 4. SFs killed 47 11 5. SFs injured 84 19 6. Militants killed 110 21

Details of major terrorist incidents are at Annexure-I.

Various separatist groups have been trying to exploit sentiments on various issues including alleged excesses committed by security forces, misuse of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act, restriction of movements of separatists, alleged apathy of Government towards flood affected families, issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits etc. In the last one year too, a number of shut down calls were given by the separatists. Details of prominent separatists activities are at Annexure-II.

(b): In major terrorist incidents, during the search operations, various arms, eatables, medicines etc. have been recovered from the terrorists, which had labels indicating their manufacturing in indicating that these militants were of Pakistani origin/came from Pakistan. Reportedly 80 terrorists of Pak origin have been killed and 04 terrorists of Pak origin have been apprehended since January 2014. Besides, interrogation of Pakistani terrorists apprehended from time to time has indicated that training and logistic support is provided to terrorists in Pakistan/PoK, who infiltrate into the State of J&K for terrorist activities.

Government has repeatedly emphasised, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control /IB and abide by the ceasefire commitment of 2003 along the International ….2/

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L.S.US.Q.NO.*481 FOR 28.04.2015

Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. In the bilateral talks held on 27th May, 2014 during the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government, Prime Minister further emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility at the International Border and upholding the sanctity of the Line of Control.

(c): During the current year one separatist who had been detained under the J&K Public Safety Act since October, 2010, was released on March 7, 2015. In this regard, an advisory was issued by this Ministry on March 12, 2015 to the State Govt. of J&K stating inter alia that all criminal cases registered against Masarat Alam Bhat must be pursued vigorously and steps taken to review the orders pertaining to grant of bail; and close surveillance to be ensured on his illegal activities in close tandem with the central security and intelligence agencies. For involvement in seditious activities, fresh FIRs were filed against Masarat Alam Bhat in which connection he was again arrested on April 17, 2015. The State Govt. of J&K has been further advised to examine whether recent activities of Masarat Alam Bhat were tantamount to violation of bail conditions, if any, and whether action can be taken accordingly including on grounds of public safety. Action has also been initiated by the State Government against Bhat under the Public Safety Act.

(d): To check terrorist activities the Government of India in tandem with the State Government, have adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, which, inter-alia, includes strengthening of border management and multi-tiered deployment along the International Border / Line of Control, and near the ever changing infiltration routes, construction of border fencing, improved technology, weapons and equipments for SFs, improved intelligence and operational coordination; and pro-active action against terrorists within the State. Firm action is taken against militants in the State as well as steps are taken to prevent recruitment of youths by militant outfits. In the year 2014, 110 militants were neutralized, of whom 52 were neutralized while attempting to infiltrate while 105 militants were forced to return back to Pakistan when their bids to infiltrate were foiled by the vigil and action of security forces on the border/LoC. Similarly, in this year upto March 2015, 21 militants were neutralized of whom, 04 militants were neutralized while attempting to infiltrate and 05 were forced to return back to Pakistan. ….3/

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Necessary steps are also taken to ensure check on illegal activities, if any, of separatist elements with stringent legal action being taken where violation is detected. For instance, recently FIR No. 92/2015 u/s 121 (waging of war against the State), 124-A (sedition), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 336 (endangering life of personal safety of others), 427 RPC and u/s 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act was registered in Police Station for the anti-India and pro-Pakistan activities of the separatists on April 15, 2015. The Government is committed to ensure that no anti-national activities take place which destabilizes the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with consequences across the country and all anti-national activities are firmly dealt with and stringent action taken. The Government remains open to dialogue with those who eschew the path of violence and are willing to work within the framework of the Constitution of India.

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Page 1 of 1 of Annexure-I L.S.US.Q.NO.*481 FOR 28.04.2015

Details of major terrorist incidents

Sl. No. Date Place Casualties Injured 1. 28.03.2014 District Security Force Security Force personnel (Army): 1 personnel Civilians: 2 (Army): 2 Militants: 3 Civilians : 3

2. 27.11.2014 Arnia sector, Security Force - Jammu personnel (Army): 3 Civilians : 5 Militants : 4 3. 05.12.2014 Army Camp Uri Security Force - Baramulla personnel (Army- 8 District JKP - 3) : 11 Militants : 6 4. 20.03.2015 Police Security Force Security Force Station Kathua personnel (CRPF-2 personnel District JKP -1): 3 (CRPF-7, Civilians : 2 JKP-3):10 Militants : 2 Civilian: 1 5. 21.03.2015 Army Camp, Militants : 2 Security Force Maheshwar personnel (Army) : 1

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Page 1 of 2 of Annexure-II L.S.US.Q.NO.*481 FOR 28.04.2015

Details of prominent separatists activities

* Before the Parliamentary elections in Apr., 2014, various separatist groups including APHC(G), APHC(A), HCJK, JKLF-Y called for boycott of the polls.

* In July, 2014, 6 civilians were killed in a motor accident. , Chairman, APHC (G) tried to exploit the tragic death of civilians by terming the road accident as a deliberate act to kill Kashmiri people and called for a two day shut down.

* During Amarnath Yatra 2014, a minor scuffle between Bhandarawalas and Pony- owners led to wide-scale disturbance on Baltal route to Amarnath on 19.07.2014; separatists tried to exploit this incident by giving it a communal colour.

* On 19 July, 2014, separatists led various marches and protest rallies against Israeli offensive in Gaza.

* In August, 2014, Geelani and Shabir Shah tried to give the Kausarnag yatra a communal colour and organized protests in South Kashmir against the Kausarnag Yatra.

* Separatists observed 27 Oct., 2014 as ‘Black Day’ as a mark of protest against Indian establishment and called for a complete shutdown in Kashmir.

* Post floods, separatists tried to project themselves as saviours of the Kashmir people while at the same time attempted to undermine the relief and rehabilitation work done by Government and Security Forces.

* Separatists called for complete shutdown in Kashmir during the visits of the Prime Minister on 04 July, 23 Oct. and 07 Dec., 2014.

* Separatist leaders, including SAS Geelani, , Chairman, APHC(A) and , Chairman, JKLF-Y, participated in the Pakistan National Day function at Pakistan High Commission (PHC), on March 23, 2015.

* On April 11, 2015 separatists called for a shutdown in over the issue of ‘assurance’ by to Union Home Minister to acquire and provide land for ‘composite townships’ for return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

* On April 14, 2015 separatists organized a protest in Tral town, District against the killing of a militant and in an encounter between the Army and terrorists in the forest area of Buchoo Kamla Tral.

* On 15th April 2015 on the return of SAS Geelani from Delhi, separatist organizations organized a procession to receive him in which anti-national slogans and seditious speeches were made amongst others by Masarat Alam Bhat, Chairman Muslim

Page 2 of 2 of Annexure-II L.S.US.Q.NO.*481 FOR 28.04.2015

League-Masarat (a constituent of APHC/G). Masarat Alam Bhat was also found to be involved in leading the crowd to raise anti-national slogans and hoist Pakistani flags. While addressing the gathering Geelani condemned the firing incident at Tral and asserted that he would visit Tral on April 17, 2015. He also claimed that the construction of composite townships in the Valley was a manifestation of a deep rooted conspiracy against the people of the State.

* Separatists called for the bandh across the Valley on April 18, 2015 to protest against the Tral incident, arrest/detention of separatists including Masarat Alam Bhat and other issues. During this bandh, miscreants resorted to stone pelting on Security Forces and passing by vehicles on Srinagar – road at Narbal chowk, resulting in the death of a local youth in police firing.

* On April 20, 2015 Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik visited Narbal to pay condolences to the youth killed in firing by SFs on April 18, 2015 and jointly addressed the gathering. They criticized the mainstream political parties and appealed for unity among the public for election boycotts.

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